Since 1988 May has been recognized as National Foster Awareness Month.
While children in foster care deserve love, support, and recognition every month of the year, and every day of their lives, this designation helps to bring awareness to the 400,000 children living in temporary situations outside their family of origin.
That's why I chose THIS month to invite Jennifer Perry to join me on my podcast, LOVE SOMEONE. Jennifer, and the organizations she's associated with, Children’s Action Network and FosterMore, work tirelessly on behalf of vulnerable children in the system in the hopes of enriching their lives and building a better future for them, and for all of us. (It's important to remember that the youth of today become the leaders of tomorrow.)
Becoming involved with the plight of foster care is also a gift you give yourself and to the society we all live within.
From the CAN website
Children’s Action Network (CAN) uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children’s issues and make them a top priority in everyday life.
CAN is currently dedicated to raising awareness about and finding homes for the more than 100,000 youth in foster care in the United States who are waiting for an adoptive family and improving outcomes for the more than 400,000 youth in foster care.
I can't tell you the number of people who call my evening radio program, who write to me, or leave comments on my social media platforms lamenting the fact that they are LONELY. Loneliness is a disease, and I'm happy to tell you that becoming involved in supporting foster kids is a sure-fire cure! There are a myriad of ways to become involved in this critical need, and it doesn't have to mean being a foster parent (tho I encourage you to do that if your heart is leaning in that direction!)
Becoming a mentor, an advocate, or volunteer at events that support foster kids... Stuffing duffle bags with essential items to their many, many transitions from home to home, building a shop-free closet in your community... creating an internship program if you're a business owner or manager... these are just a teeny tiny sampling of how you can help these kids and fill however many hours of your day that you might otherwise be isolated and feeling lonely.
From the FosterMore website
FosterMore is an unparalleled coalition of media and entertainment companies, foundations, non-profits, businesses and philanthropic organizations working to create greater understanding, empathy, and action to improve the future of youth in foster care. The approach falls into three categories:
Entertainment & Media Engagement – FosterMore works to unleash the assets of the entertainment and creative communities to change the narrative for foster youth and families.
One-Stop Web Presence and Foster Care Hub – FosterMore brings together businesses and non-profit child and family service organizations in collaboration. Their website and social media platforms serve as a conduit for anyone looking to get involved with foster care. The website offers a clear “ladder of engagement,” which allows site visitors to take action as they see fit.
National Education Scholarship for youth in foster care – FosterMore believes in the promise of all children and funds raised benefit our nonprofit partners with scholarships for youth in foster care. The scholarship fund is a way for many companies and individuals to be involved in realizing the amazing potential of youth in foster care.
I know that I become quite frustrated with the situation and the systems that are currently in place, but I have to remind myself that it's important to give credit to those things that ARE working and the people who are giving so much of themselves. So May is also a time to show appreciation and gratitude for foster parents as well as the people and organizations that ALREADY supporting foster youth and the progress that's been made.
For example, when I was talking with Jennifer on my podcast, I asked how many states had programs that assisted kids who were 'aging out' of the system. (The last time i checked, the number was 12 .) Jennifer did get back to me, and with good new too - that number has risen to 32! 32 states now provide some kind of assistance to kids after they turn 18 years old to help them become self-supporting. I am so thrilled to hear this! I'll be happier still when all 50 are on board, but hopeful that the time is coming.
From the Point Hope website
The number of ways the organization I founded, Point Hope, supports kids in foster care is limited only by your own imaginations.
From Teenistas, a day of day of dress-up, pampering, and dining for teen girls, providing shoe-boxes of school supplies, duffle bags of necessities, and free closets, Points of Hope Chapters are sprinkled all over our country, started by folks who want to get involved using skills and talents they possess. You can too!
There is still so much work to be done, and that's where I hope all of you will come in. Do you have it in your heart to help a foster child? I hope so! Because each state’s foster system operates a little differently, here’s a great starting place:
The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory which offers contact information for State child welfare officials, programs, organizations, and services with a focus on foster care, permanency, and adoption.
Daughter Briar’s adoption!
You can search their directory to find foster care and adoption agencies, support groups, training- and youth-specific associations, State offices, and State-sponsored information lines. Links to websites and agency-specific details are also provided, if available. It provides details on
How to become a foster parent
How to adopt
Contact information for local and county child welfare agencies
Accredited/approved adoption services providers for inter-country adoption
